The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-02

nat. The name OF CTttlc is lar better 1or
such paper as ours will be, and while |
agree that your city will be the better
point of publication, l must refuse to
give up the name of my own paper"
"Herc's a how de-do," muttercd Ed
ward.
He laid the letter down and proceeded
to think. Just then Fulton came up,
and to him was poured out the dilemma.
Fulton laughed heartily, too much so
to suit the pcrpleXed editor, who was
running his fingers through his POM
padour until it stood as straight as
West Point cadet.
"Tell you what, John, come 60 down
there with me tomorrow night I've
told them about you; we will spend the
evening with the family, and you can tlX
up the name without any trouble,
know. think myself the Critic is the
| better name"
but, deuce take it ! Tve built up
this paper. put my hearts blood into 1t.
Pm identified with it, and I'll be
switched if 1 give it up. But I'll 60 with
you"
The evening that followed was to Ed
wards the rcd-lctter evening of his life.
Never had he met with such charming
entertainment, never such unassumlng
and pleasant hospitality as in the Irving
manSion.
Remember, no business tonight" )"
Fulton had said as they pulled the bell.
Mr. Irving, however, was not ut home,
fact that Edwards had no occasion to re-
gret after he had met the ladies OF the
homestead. The easy grace of the moth
er and daughters, the humor, the music,
the charming conversation cnthrallcd
him. When Fulton rose to go Edwards
was surprised Casually he mentioned
his errand. He was glad to find the
ladies favored the pro, ,ect. 'Only, they
said, "you must not expect our Critic to
give up its name.'
"Wc shall see Tomorrow" laughed
Edwards, latter consultation with the
chief cook"
"Well," said Fulton, when they had
walked square, "what do you think of
thcm!"
Edwards was not smoking. He was
quiet and thoughtful. He turned to
Fulton and said gravc.y: "Fulton, they
are family of angels. I've known nice
women, but none that compare with
these. l see now where their brother
gets his dclicacy and refined notions. -
Two hours later Edwards said to his
friend, who was half asleep: Say,
George, have you any claim on either OF
those girls"
No" mu:mured Fulton, slecpily;
sam thinking of pre-empting the young
est, though. Go to sleep"
"Well, then, as sure us my name IS
Edwards, )" John was half soliloquizing,
s'hcrs hall be Edwards, too"
'Whose?" encrgetically asked his
friend, turning over in bed, 'the young
est9"
"No, the other one."
ooh, go to sleep then, and don't bother
me with your maunderings.
If Edwards did 90 to sleep, it was not
until some very decisive plans had been
formed which, for the time being. drove
the newspaper consolidation entirely into
the background
1t was not nine o'clock when he pre-
sented himself at the sanctum the next
morning. An office boy was busting it
and ha the windows raised. Edwards
,milcd us he surveyed it. He walked to
tn. desk, OH which stood a vase of
flowers, frc.h the day before. A pile of
lcttcr-hcads with "Ncwtown Weekly
Cyita., NJ. w. Irving, editor" printed at
the top, lay on the desk. Instinctively
he threw his cigar away. The very all
OF the pla G said "no smoking allowed"
He was intent on his admiring examin-
alton when there was L step Oh the stair
and Il lady entered with bouquet in he1
hand.
"Ah, Miss Irving" and Edwards
stepped forward to greet her as she sank
into large chair. "Iou fill the cdl-
torial chair very we'll"
"As to draperics, yes" she laughed.
I" But when am to see this very eu-
sivc VI. w. Irving, your brother? l have
not many moro hours in this pleasant
lettering place" :.
Miss Irving looked archly at him.
"IIavc you not guessed that NJ. W. lrv-
ING is-myself Mary Washington 1rv-
ing. They had to get our distinguished
relatives name in somewhere She
auscd and looked at Edwards. An ex-
preston of almost pitiful pcrpcXity was
on his face.
''But," he gaspcd, "your brother, the
cditor.'
Il am the editor" she said, quietly,
dsliking to laugh at him in his embar-
ras+mcnt. 1T was your own mistake,
Mr.. Edwards, and it was so funny that
Mr.. Fulton and all of us let it go on.
You will pardon US"
But Mr.. Edwards had withdrawn with
hasty bow. lie wanted time and air.
lie finally concluded to remain until the
evening train, and Il boy from the hotel
bore to the sanctun of the Ncwtown Critic
a mi>>ivc saying. that at 3 OF the clock
on that bright September afternoon Mr..
John Edwards would present himself at
the Irving mansion. 1t was sudden, but
love often is. After several hours of tetc-
a-tetc, Mr. Edwards and Miss Irving
joined the family group, of whom Fulton
made one.
"ucntcmen and ladies, and Edwards
led Miss Irving to her mother, ICON
solidation has been ELECTED on most fa-
vorlblc terms"
Smiles and congratulations went
around. 1t seemed to have been under
stood from the beginning.
(Which is it to be, Critic or Journal ?"
questioned Fulton.
Il bow to her in that answered Ed
wa.tls. "lt is the Critic, but she has
promised not to be as tenacious of her
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